4 white supremacists face up to 10 years in prison over 2017 Charlottesville rally violence

Over a year after the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, charges have been brought against four of its alleged participants.
Four members of a white supremacist group have been arrested and hit with two charges: conspiracy to violate the federal riot statute and actually violating the federal riot statute, per NBC News. According to federal prosecutors, the men "committed multiple acts of violence including punching, kicking, headbutting, and pushing numerous people." The August 2017 rally of white nationalists left three people dead and dozens injured, including 32-year-old Heather Heyer, who was killed when a man rammed his car into a crowd. These new arrests are unrelated to Heyer's death, with James Alex Fields Jr. having been charged with second-degree murder in 2017. He pleaded not guilty earlier this year.
The four men whose arrests were announced Tuesday — 25-year-old Benjamin Daley, 34-year-old Thomas Gillen, 29-year-old Michael Miselis, and 24-year-old Cole White — are all from California and members of the white nationalist group Rise Above Movement. HuffPost reports that an affidavit describes them as being "among the most violent individuals present in Charlottesville." If convicted, the four face up to 10 years in prison. Read more at NBC News.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?
The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequel
The Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtrip
The Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attack
Speed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival
-
Kenya arrests alleged ant smugglers
speed read Two young Belgians have been charged for attempting to smuggle ants out of the country to exotic pet buyers
-
Judge ends Eric Adams case, Trump leverage
Speed Read Federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams were dismissed, as requested by Trump's Justice Department
-
Texas arrests midwife on felony abortion charges
Speed Read Maria Margarita Rojas and an employee at one of her clinics are the first to be criminally charged under Texas' near-total abortion ban
-
South Carolina to execute prisoner by firing squad
speed read Death row inmate Brad Sigmon prefers the squad over the electric chair or lethal injection, his lawyer said
-
Mexico extradites 29 cartel figures amid US tariff threat
Speed Read The extradited suspects include Rafael Caro Quintero, long sought after killing a US narcotics agent
-
Leonard Peltier released from prison
Speed Read The Native American activist convicted of killing two FBI agents had his life sentence commuted by former President Joe Biden
-
Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years
Speed Read The former New Jersey senator was convicted on federal bribery and corruption charges last year